Wildlife workers on Ship Island, Miss., capture a northern gannet that had been partly covered in oil and was unable to fly. More than 900 miles of shoreline were affected, Times research found.

Wildlife workers on Ship Island, Miss., capture a northern gannet that had been partly covered in oil and was unable to fly. More than 900 miles of shoreline were affected, Times research found. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

A boat makes its way along the edge of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico near the Chandeleur Islands on May 5, 2010. Oil reached the islands the following day, marking the first time it reached shore.

A boat makes its way along the edge of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico near the Chandeleur Islands on May 5, 2010. Oil reached the islands the following day, marking the first time it reached shore. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Stebley, who had been fishing off the Chandeleur Islands for 25 years, said he'd never seen anything like this oil spill. "It's not too late," he said in May 2010. "If they would only do something now."

Mark Stebley, who had been fishing off the Chandeleur Islands for 25 years, said he'd never seen anything like this oil spill. "It's not too late," he said in May 2010. "If they would only do something now." (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)